Garment press



ug'. 31 19263a 1,598,462

R. E. 'TVVGG GARMENT PRESS Filed Dec. 24, 1925 Patented Jiug. 31, 1926.

UNTED STATES ROBERT EDWARD TWIGG, OF EDGBASTON, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

GARM'ENT PRE SS.

Application :filed December 24, 1925, Serial No. 77,5S5, and in Great Britain January 8, 15325.

This invention relates to an improved garment press suitable for smoothing and pressing various articles of clothing but more particularly intended for pressing small articles such as neclrties. The object of the prese-nt invention is to provide a neat effective. simple device for smoothing and pressing such garments.

In such garment presses it has been proposed to provide substantially parallel pressure boards which were held apart by spring pressure and for the purpose of applying the pressure to the garment the pressure boards were moved towards one another' by means of a screw device or the like. According to the present invention I employ pressure boards which are coupled together by spring means, instead of being pried apart, and the garment to be pressed is folded over a holder or insertion piece which is pushed longitudinally between the pressure boards, so that the act of inserting the garment smootlis it out and the spring pressure boards retain it in proper shape with a suitable pressure.

To facilitate insertion of the garment such as a necktie, means are provided for distorting the springs so that they temporarily pry the pressure boards apart. The springs are to this end preferably located laterally of the pressure boards at two or more points at each side and are connected to a side bar so that on moving the side bar inwardly the springs are distorted to pry the pressure boards apart. The pressure boards are also preferably tapered at their ends where the. garnient is inserted so as to facilitate such insertion. The internal surfaces of the pressure boards which face one another are smooth to effect the desired smoothing action on the garment whilst the external surfaces may be ribbed or corrugated so as to enable the garment press to be placed on a dressing table without danger of scratching the surface of the dressing table.

Although reference is made herein to two pressure boards, it will be understood that the arrangement may be duplicated and the ferm chosen to be described and illustrated herein is intended only as an example of a suitable method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the improved garment press with a necktie inserted in place.

Figure 2 shows a suitable form of garment holder or insertion piece.

Figure 3 is an ond view of the press.

.Figure et. is an end elevation of the insertion piece shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the press with a necltie therein.

In carrying the invention into effect as shown, the garment press comprises pressure boards a and Z) which are held in substantially parallel relation but a short distance apart by spring means which also serveI to coupie the boards together. In the form shown, the spring means comprise four C- springs fixed two at each side and laterally of the pressure boards 0; and so that they curve outwardly from a central plane of the pressure boards. The springs c are anchored by screws a to the pressure boards a and b as well as to side bars CZ and e which are nested in the curved part of the springs c. The side bars ci and e act not only as means to couple the springs c and enable their distortion for the purposes hereafter explained, but also serve as curved side walls to the press.

It will be understood that the springs c hold th'e'pressure boards at their closest normal position when no garment is in the press. By holding the press in vthe hand and squeezing the side bars Z and e, the springs c are distorted and carry the pressure boards a and Z) apart. To further assist in this action, I may form the adjacent faces of the side bars fl and e and the pressure boards a and b beVelled as at cl and a so that the spring distortion is assisted by the wedge action of the inwardly moving side bars (Z and e.

In order to prevent the screw heads of the screws n from scratching the table on which the press is laid, I prefer to provide ribs or the like m on the external surfaces of the pressure boards a and Z).

The garment to be pressed is here assumed to be a necktie and this necktie is folded over a holder f which may be termed an insertion piece. In the preferred form of holder for use with a necltie, it is composed of two hinged flaps f1 and f2 which are joined by a leather or like flexible strip f3 suitably let into the flaps. The flaps have also scalloped out parts f4 to act as finger pieces when pulling the necktie out of the press and a recessed part f5 at the top end of the insertion piece helps to retain the neclrtie in place on the insertion piece. The purpose of the hinged flaps is to allow the neel; band portion of the neclitie to be folded between the flaps as the smoothing eii'eet is to be applied mainly to the end portions of the tie. In this way the press may be made of shorter length than has been usual in such push-in tie presses.

In use, the tie is folded on the holder with the ends it is desired to press arranged outside when the holder is folded in bool; form as shown in dotted lines in Figure Il. The press is then held in the left hand and the sides (Z and e slightly squeezed to cause the side bars to approach and the pressure boards t and Y) are therebj,v caused Ato move slightly apart. The necktie on the yholder is then passed longitudinally in the direction of the arrow in Figure l between the pressure boards. 'ilo facilitate the insertion of the tie on entering between the boards, the ends of these are bei'elled or ltapered as indicated at g. fin internal slip of cardboard or the like maybe inserted inside the tie as at L so as 4to stretch the material of the neclrtie t as indicated iu figure 5. To extract the tie from the ,pi-ess, the ypress is again gripped in the left hand and the iiisertion piece or holder f gripped by the iinger holes f1 and the tie pulled out still in the direction of the arrow in Figure l. yEhe degree ofl smoothing action effected during insertion and withdrawal of `the neelrtie can be regulated by the lateral pressure applied by the left hand Ato the side bars Z and c; this is an important feature when it is considered that the various materials of which the iieclrties are made require varying degrees of pressure in smoothing.

claim:

l. fr garment press comprising :in combination, two substantially parallel pressure boards, spring means fixed to and .located laterally of said pressure boards to press them towards one another and retain them coupled in substantially parallel spaced `relation and a rigid garment holder over which the garment is folded and adapted to be pushed longitudinally between the pressure boards.

2. A garment press comprising in combilnation, two substantially parallel pressure boards, spring means fixed to and located laterally of said pressure boards lto press them towards one another and to retain them coupled in substantially parallel spaced relation, a rigid insertion piece over which the garment is lfolded Vand adapted to l pushed longitudinally between said pressure 4,boards and means for distorting said springs to pry the pressure boards apart to facilitate the insertion of the garment and insertion piece.

A garment .press comprising yin combination, two substantially parallel pressure boards, curved .springs joining said boards at the sidesand coupling them resiliently in si-ibstantially parallel spaced relation, side bars fixed to said curved springs so that on being pressed together laterally they distort the springs to move the pressure boards apart and a vgarment holder on which the garment to be pressed is folded and inserted longitudinally between said pressure boards.

et. A garment press conipi'ising in combination, two substantially parallel pressure boards, curved springs joining said boards at :the sides .and coupling :them resiliently in bstantially .parallel spaced relation, side Jars i'ixed to said curved springs so that on ie-'ing pressed together laterally they distort rthe springs to move the pressure boards apart, vwedge faces .on the adjacent sides of said pressure boards and side bars to eooperate `in moving the pressure boards apart Sil lafi and a garment holder on which the o'arinent b i3 to :be pressed is folded and inserted longi- .tudinally between said pressure boards.

5. fr garment press comprising in combination, :two substantially 4parallel pressure boards having smooth faces opposite one another `and external ribbed surfaces, a phi- -rality of @I3-shaped springs joining said boards at each side, the 'C-shaped springs on Aopposite sides having their convexities facing one another, side barson each side fixed to said G-shaped springs and nesting in said conyexities and a rigid garment holder adapted to be pushed longitudinally between `said pressure iboards and side pieces.

(5. A Agarment press comprising in coinbination, :two substantially parallel pressure boards, a vplurality of springs joining said Yboards on opposite sides, side bars fixed to said `-springs and varranged on being appioached to pry the pressure boards apart and a garment Lholder for inserting between said pressure boards and having two flaps and a flexible hinge joining said flaps, substantially as described.

ROBERT 'EDY/WARD TVGG. 

